Community Garden News

Great spring harvests over the last couple of weeks as the artichokes seem to have taken off, bigger, better, and earlier than usual… if you are a fan check out the Larder each Wednesday… there is plenty more to come! Also, probably the best crop of rhubarb that we have seen in a while, and we have lots of lettuce about ready for harvest. 

We have also harvested the last of the current planting of beetroot: they are massive but have been tested for juicy tenderness and found to pass the test. (Check our Facebook page for photos of produce that is delivered to the Larder)

We have cleared tired winter crops that have delivered their best and are now preparing for summer plantings, particularly tomatoes. Our efforts with tomatoes have been mixed on the past, so this year we aim to raise crops “under cover”, in pots and probably the odd plant out in the main garden. 

Currently, we are preparing the ground with a coating of lime, well-watered in and loads of our excellent compost. A good scoop of milk powder will go into the soils before planting, and a regular feeding regime set up once we see fruit setting.

Over the winter we have built up a good pumpkin mound- any grass clippings, horse poo, clippings from harvested plants, pea straw and compost have gone into the mound. It looks fabulous! We have planted butternut, green and grey pumpkins, and the children from Martinborough School, who visited us last autumn to add leaves to our compost, have sprouted pumpkins which they will add to the crop. Nga mihi, tamariki! So great to have this community connection.

We have at last a Kumara Queen who has been working on developing a dedicated kumara patch. This is a crop we have not had great success with… each year they have been a little better than the last, but far from spectacular… no pressure! But as do most gardeners, we too live in hope of bigger and better crops. Watch this space!

Over the next few weeks, we will plant eggplants, peppers, chillies, cucumber, beans and keep up a flow of lettuce. We have learnt to stick with what grows well and what gets uplifted from the Larder, and to a certain degree, what does not get attacked by wee beasties in our absence. 

If there is anything that you would like to see added to the garden, drop by on a Wednesday morning between 10-12 noon, and let us know (51 Oxford Street) … who knows, you might like to join us! On that note, we will be looking to set up a summer watering roster in the next few weeks, so if you are keen to be part of that essential task, please leave a message on our Facebook page, or drop by the garden at times mentioned above.